Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Captain Beefheart Radar Station

beefheart.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 36 posts

Re: Captain Beefheart Radar Station

#21

Post by n4r9 »

briga wrote: post #6

A lot of people listen to about 30 seconds of Trout Mask Replica and then immediately write off Van Vliet's music as unlistenable twaddle, just weird for the sake of being weird. And it certainly is weird music--but when you really start listening to the album you start to discover a twisted inner logic to every atonal guitar shreik and weird drum beat. It all comes together to create something pretty unique in the w…

Like probably a lot of people, my first proper introduction to him was through the song "Her eyes are a blue million miles" on the Big Lebowski soundtrack. That song - and most of the Clear Spot album it comes from - has this amazing quality where it initially comes off very well as a classic rock track, but the more you listen to it the more you realise how many musical conventions it breaks. For example the starting vocals come in in just the weirdest way, as if he's already halfway through the song.

Re: Captain Beefheart Radar Station

#23

Post by ttonkytonk »

fanspeed wrote: post #14

Type Beefheart into youtube and you'll typically get TMR and Safe as Milk at the top (depending on your location and profile). There's 0.75 of one good track on Safe as Milk and TMR is merely a sketchbook compared to the masterpieces to come. Let's go: * Shiny Beast * Lick My Decals Off, Baby * Doc at the Radar Station * Ice Cream For Crow These are, unconditionally, guaranteed, the best Beefheart albums

Absurd. On Safe as Milk, Abba Zabba is 100% a great song, and most of the other songs are decent.

Re: Captain Beefheart Radar Station

#26

Post by grasshopperpurp »

fanspeed wrote: post #14

Type Beefheart into youtube and you'll typically get TMR and Safe as Milk at the top (depending on your location and profile). There's 0.75 of one good track on Safe as Milk and TMR is merely a sketchbook compared to the masterpieces to come. Let's go: * Shiny Beast * Lick My Decals Off, Baby * Doc at the Radar Station * Ice Cream For Crow These are, unconditionally, guaranteed, the best Beefheart albums

I have a real soft spot for Autumn's Child, and I also really like Call on Me and I'm Glad; plus, you get some awesome Ry Cooder moments on Safe as Milk.

But, you've nailed my favorite Beefheart period (Shiny Beast-Ice Cream for Crow), and Shiny Beast stands apart as my favorite (The Floppy Boot Stomp, Tropical Hot Dog Night, Bat Chain Puller, Apes-Ma, etc.). During this period, his work had a balance and maturity - without sacrificing much of his quirkiness.

Re: Captain Beefheart Radar Station

#27

Post by grasshopperpurp »

wyclif wrote: post #11

My fave Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band listens are: Safe As Milk (features a young Ry Cooder on guitar) Trout Mask Replica Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) Lick My Decals Off, Baby Clear Spot

I believe it was in the liner notes for Safe as Milk that I read John Lennon had something like seven copies and that it was his favorite new album at the time of its release.

Cooder has some interesting stories about why he parted ways with Vilet.

Re: Captain Beefheart Radar Station

#28

Post by the_solenoid »

There is a documentary floating around about Captain Beefheart. These guys and their contemporaries (just look at the list of band members and collaborators) ended up being some of the most respected folks in music.

My parents loved the music, so I got a lot of exposure as a kid. I kind of liken it to listening to a new language: some of the ideas are that different. It can be jarring, but I think anyone who loves music should just give all the albums a few listens.

Re: Captain Beefheart Radar Station

#29

Post by HenryTheHorse »

grasshopperpurp wrote: post #27
wyclif wrote: post #11

My fave Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band listens are: Safe As Milk (features a young Ry Cooder on guitar) Trout Mask Replica Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) Lick My Decals Off, Baby Clear Spot

I believe it was in the liner notes for Safe as Milk that I read John Lennon had something like seven copies and that it was his favorite new album at the time of its release. Cooder has some interesting stories about why he parted ways with Vilet.

Not a surprise, given Lennon's (and the Beatles') interest in avant-garde, musique concrete and Stockhausen.

Re: Captain Beefheart Radar Station

#30

Post by sincerely »

fanspeed wrote: post #14

Type Beefheart into youtube and you'll typically get TMR and Safe as Milk at the top (depending on your location and profile). There's 0.75 of one good track on Safe as Milk and TMR is merely a sketchbook compared to the masterpieces to come. Let's go: * Shiny Beast * Lick My Decals Off, Baby * Doc at the Radar Station * Ice Cream For Crow These are, unconditionally, guaranteed, the best Beefheart albums

Safe as Milk isn't a work of genius but it's a perfectly serviceable blues rock album
Post reply on HN